this that
Does your job work you this hard?
Hal. Chaos Theory
HOW KAYAKING’S CRAZINESS LEADS TO SUCCESS ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF LIFE
>> A FEW YEARS AGO, Hal Richman had a firsthand encounter with sea kayaking chaos. He was paddling near Lower Pros- pect, Nova Scotia, when he became sepa- rated from his friends. He panicked, forgot to use his communication devices and be- came the subject of a search that was spear- headed by Dave Adler, the owner of East Coast Outfitters. Local fishermen searched the water. The coast guard was standing by with a helicopter. Things looked dire. “Radio communications switched from
looking for a paddler to looking for a boat and a body,” says Adler. Richman eventually regained his bear-
ings and paddled back to safety, so the search ended. But for Richman and Adler it was the beginning of a friendship and business partnership. In his day job, Richman works as a
high-rolling management consultant and leadership trainer for major corporations and organizations, including stints with the United Nations in East Timor and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Through his work with corporate and military leaders, Richman developed a theory that con- ventional thought-driven, process-based leadership methods don’t work well in complex, constantly changing environ- ments; that chaotic situations demand a different type of leadership that inte- grates the brain, heart and body.
16 | | ADVENTURE KAYAK summer 2007 After his near-miss on the Atlantic,
Richman saw a connection between sea kayaking and his leadership ideas. He realized that sea kayaking would be the perfect laboratory to teach “Chaos Leadership” to paddlers and non-pad- dlers alike. Richman took courses at East Coast
Outfitters to become a certified assis- tant guide. Then he and Adler crafted a 3.5-day Chaos Leadership program that includes basic sea kayaking training, an overnight trip, several think-on-the- fly scenarios—including a reenactment of Richman’s own close call—and lots of feedback. “Throwing people into a marine envi-
ronment is a good way to reproduce cha- os, even though the scenarios are crafted up,” says Adler, who’s been teaching whitewater and sea kayaking since 1991. Chaos Leadership ran as a pilot course
last November. This year East Coast Outfitters is offering at least three Cha- os Leadership programs. Richman and Adler are hoping to soon be offering their course around the world. “Everyone, even if they have a nice
little office job, feels like they’re in a battle zone,” says Richman. “The best way to deal with chaos is to release your assumptions and engage your emotions and your body.” —Conor Mihell
MAIN PHOTO:
GARYANDJOANIEMCGUFFIN.CA// INSET PHOTO: DAVE ADLER
and
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52